Grinding machine



Dec. 1, 1931. G V, JOHNSTON 1,834,158

GRINDING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l ,7 ghwnrm Dec. 1, 1931. e. v. JOHNSTON GRINDING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1,1931.

G. V. JOHNSTON GRINDING MACHINE 2] 140014 lot Gm, Maw/raw Patented Dec. 1,- 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE V. JOHNSTON, OF LOVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO CINCINNATI GBINDERS IN- CORPORA'IED, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OI OHIO GRINDING- MACHINE Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to improvements in grinding machinery and more particularly to that type of machine commercially known as a centerless grinder.

5. One of the principal objects of the present invention. is the provision of an improved automatic mechanism for controlling the presentation and removal of work pieces as respects the throat of a centerless grinder for grinding a predetermined or limited portion of the work piece.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a safe and efiicient mechanism for introduction of work pieces to a centerless grinder, for grinding an intermediate portion thereof, which are of a type not readily axially introducible within the machine, and which will both reduce the idle time between grinding operations on successive work pieces and also eliminate liability of injury to the operator in introducing the work piece to the machine or removing the same therefrom.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved mechanism particularly adapted for the handling of single or double headed articles having an intermediate portion desired to be cylindrically ground, which will be semi-automatic in cyclic operation, requiring attention of the operator only to introduce work pieces to and remove them from the feed portion of the mechanism at a point remote from that at which the grinding is performed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrative of one embodiment thereof, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific structural details hereinafter disclosed, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Fi ure 1 is a front view of a machine embodylng the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse view as on the line 50 3-3 of Figure 2.

1929. Serial No. 364,394.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the work supporting and receiving members.

Figure 5 is a view of the cycle controlling cam and associate parts, with the housing therefor shown in section.

F igure6 is a transverse section as on line 6-6 of Figure 5. m

Figure 7 isa fragmentary section on line 77 of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a section through the work shifting means as on line 88 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, in which similar characters of reference are employed to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates the base or bed of a centerless grinder, having rising therefrom the head 11, in which' is journaled a suitable spindle for support of the grinding wheel 12, adapted to be operated at a high grinding rate of speed in a clockwise direction, causing the inner portion of its operative surface to move downward toward the bed during the erformance of the grinding operation. 11 opposition to the grinding wheel, the bed is provided with ways at 13 for the slide 14.- movable with respect to the bed and in turn having slidably mounted thereon the regulating wheel unit designated as an entirety by the numeral 15. This unit includes the journals 16 for the spindle of the regulating wheel 17, operated at a slow work controlling rate of speed in a clockwise direction so that its inner or work engaging surface moves upwardly'as respects the bed.

Carried by the slide 14 is a bracket 18 recessed as at 19 to receive the work rest blade unit 20 vertically adjustable therein and clamped in position as by bolts 21. This bracket is further provided with an upright portion or bracket 22 bearing the table 23 having the opposed undercut beveled guide 24.

J ournaled in the bracket is a spindle 25, hearing on one end a pinion 26 and having intermediately secured thereto the collar 27 of the L-shaped work receiving head 28. This head 28 has 'a slot '29 formed therein, adapted when the head is in raised or upwardly swung position to align with the space between guides 24. The. head is further undercut or recessed, as at 30, in correspondence with the undercutting of the guides 24. As a result, when the head is in upwardly swung position and the parts alined, a headed work piece such as indicated in Figures 3 and 4 may be placed on the table and shifted with its head 31 sliding therealong, when it will be substantially automatically positioned by the guides and d1- rected' into therecess 30, with. its stem portion 32 projecting upward from slot 29. Upon oscillation of the head 28, the work piece will then be swung downwardly 1nto the position shown in Figure 3, when the portion 32 thereof to be ground w 1l l rest upon the work rest blade 20, in pos1t1on 1n the grinding throat between wheels 12 and 17 for proper rotation and stock removal therefrom. It will be noted that the slot 29 and its undercutting is sufficient to allow freedom of movement of the work piece so that its position on the rest will be automatically determined by the engagement of the regulating wheel therewith and the work shifting head will in no wise interfere wlth self determination of position of the work within the machine or with its rotation for grinding. On reverse oscillation of the head 28, the work piece will again be brought with its lower end in alignment with table 23, .when it may be rapidly manually retracted and a new piece slipped into position.

The structure just described is particularly valuable for introduction and removal of valve members, such as shown in the drawings, having a head 31 at one end andan enlargement 33 at the opposite end, of a nature to interfere with axial introduction of the work piece to the grinding throat unless it is lost in imparting an undue retracting movement to the parts'forming the throat, the present invention, therefore, speeding up the possible number of cycles of the machine per minute, reducing its idle time as well as automatically handling the work pieces and permitting pre-loading at a remote point without possibility of injury to the operator.

It will be understood that the loading mechanism just described is capable of either manual or automatic actuation as preferred. In the present instance, however, the actuating mechanism has been shown as a reciprocable rack 34. movable transversely on support bracket 18 in position determined, for

example, by the guide plate 35. This rack is carried by an arm or plate 36 secured on reciprocable rod 37 slidably supported by lugs 38 on the bracket. A compression spring 39, interposed between one of the lugs 38 and collar 40 on rod 37, resiliently actuates the rack outward in a position to yieldingly press the work down between the wheels, as indicated in Figure 3.

For actuation of the rod in a reverse direction, there is secured to same, block 41 having a slot 42 receiving a pin 43 of rock shaft 44 journaled in bearmg 45. This shaft extends outwardly into the control casing 46 of the machine, supported at one end thereof by bracket 47. Depending from the casing is an actuating motor 48, driving worm 49 in mesh with worm gear 50 on shaft 51. Shaft 51 carries a face cam 52 having a groove 53 receiving roller 54 adj ustably connected to rock arm 55 pivoted as at 56. This arm has coupled therewith, links 57 en aging slide block 58, in which is swiveled a justing screw 59, having its inner end in engagement with nut 60 carried by regulating wheel unit 15. It will thus be seen that rotation of screw 59 will vary the position of unit 15 with respect to block 58 while oscillation of arm 55 will slide the block and regulating wheel together as a unit. Clamps, as at 61, may be'utilized to lock the regulating wheel to main slide 14, in which event the main slide, work rest blade and work feed mechanism will be moved back and forth as an entirety with respect to the grinding wheel when the cam is rotated.

The cam member 52 is additionally provided with a rib or cam portion 62 designed during a portion of'its rotation to contact with lug 63 of rock lever 64, slotted at 65 to engage pin 66 on plunger 67. This plunger has a hooked terminus 68 interlocking with notch 69 on disc 70 carried by rock shaft 44. At a given point in the rotation of the cam, viz. just after the roller has engaged the portion 71 thereof, the inclined terminal portion 72 of rib 62 will engage lug 63, actuating arm 64 and thus the plunger 67 and rock shaft 37 to the position indicated in Figure 7 and by the dotted lines in Figure 3. The rib 62 retains arm 64 in this position a sufiicient period of time for removal of the work piece which has been ground and substitution of a new rough blank b the operator. The continued rotation o the cam causes the lug 63 to ride off of rib 62 prior to the engagement of.

roller 54 with riser 73 of the cam, producing inception of the infeed movement. When this latter takes place the work piece is resting loosely in the trough formed by the angle top of the work rest blade and the surface of the regulating wheel being automatically positioned on the blade by the engagement of the regulating wheel therewith. The infeed movement of the parts, effected by cam 52, causes proper presentation of the work to the grinding wheel for desired stock removal, the undercut of head 28 and the width of slot 29 being suflicient to allow of free lateral play of the work piece during this grinding. Gontinued cyclic movement of the cam then separates the wheels and again aetuates lever 64 for shifting the work piece in a position for ready removal and replacement, as above described.

From the foregoing description, the operafor introduction of headed or formed pieces not susceptible of ready axial introduction into the throat in the absence of undue separation thereof. It will be further noted that efiicacious in connection with infeed grinding of-articles which must be groundqrery near to the terminus thereof, in that it provides a means for satisfactory handling of thesearticles, both for their insertion and removal,

and eliminates the necessity of the operator having to reach close to the high speed grinding wheel, thus eliminating possible injury.

to careless or unskilled operators.

It will further be noted that the cyclic operation of the machine makes it possible to predetermine the rate of production of work pieces, eliminating all care from the operator except loading and unloading of the work pieces and thus insuring maximum productivity and a scheduled production.

I claim:

1. A centerless grinder, including a bed or support, a high speed grinding wheel carried thereby for removal of stock from a work piece, a regulating wheel disposed in opposition to the grinding wheel and providing in conjunction therewith a work receiving throat, means for imparting relative movement to said parts to vary the width of the grinding throat, a work supporting member projecting in the throat between said wheels, and oscillatable means for supplying work pieces to the throat and subsequently remove same therefrom operable in timed sequence with the movement of the parts forming the grinding throat.

2; A centerless grinder, including a bed or support, a high speed grinding wheel carried thereby for removal of stock from a work piece, a regulating wheel disposed in opposition to the grinding wheel and providing in conjunction therewith a work receiving throat, means for imparting relative movement to said parts to vary the width of the grinding throat, a work sup-porting member projecting in the throat between said wheels,

oscillatable means for supplying work pieces to the throat and subsequently remove same therefrom, said means having a portion for loose interfitting with the work piece whereby the work ieoe may automatically position itself wit in the machine.

ing machine, including opposed grinding and regulating wheels and an intermediate work 3. The combination with a centerless grind-- piece from loading to grinding position and reverse.

4. The combination with a centerless grinding machine, includin opposed grinding and regulating wheels an -an intermediate work rest of an oscillatable work controlling head having a laterally open pocket therein, and automatic means for oscillating the head to shift a work piece from loading to grinding position andreverse. the mechamsm in question is particularly -5. A centerless grinder, includin opposed grinding :and regulating wheels orming a work receiving throat therebetween', a work rest disposed within the throat, means for automatically varying the width of the grinding throat, an oscillatable work shifting member disposed adjacent the throat, and connections between said member and the throat varying mechanism for oscillating the head to shift a work iece carried thereby from loading to grinding position and reverse in timed relation to said throat variation.

6. A centerless grinder, including opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a work receiving throat therebetween, a work rest disposed within the throat, means for automatically varying the width of the grinding throat, an oscillatable work shifting member disposed adjacent the throat, and connections between said member and the throat Varying mechanism for oscillating the head to shift a work piece carried thereby from loading to grinding position and reverse intimed relation to said throat variation, said connections including a rack and pinion mechanism, means for positively actuating the rack to oscillate-the parts to loading and discharge position, and means for resiliently actuating the rack in a reverse direction.

7. A centerless grinder, including opposed grinding and regulating wheels providing a work receiving throat therebet-Ween, a work rest disposed within the throat, a loading table disposed adjacent the rest, and an oscillatable work positioning device adjacent the rest. shiftable to transfer a work piece from the loading table to the rest, said member having a portion loosely engaging the work during grinding operable on movement of the head in a reverse direction to positively lift the work piece out of the grinding throat.

9. The combination with a centerless grinder. including opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a work receiving throat therebetween, of a work rest projecting Within the throat, an oscillatable ejector mounted adjacent the rest operable to lift a work piece upwardly and outwardly as respects the grinding throat, and means efl'ect-ive to 1mpart oscillatory movement to said ejector.

having a work engaging portion movable from work receiving relation to the table to a position adjacent the rest for presentation of a projecting portion of the work in operative relation to said rest.

11. The combination with a centerle'ss grinder, including opposed grinding and regulating wheels and an intermediate work rest, of a work feeding table disposed adj acent the work rest, an oscillatable work positionin member intermediate the table and rest havlng a work engaging portion movable from work receiving relation to the table to a position adjacent the rest for presentation of a projecting portion of the work in operative relation to said rest, and means for resiliently shifting the member into said work presenting position.

12. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposed grinding and regulating wheels and an intermediate work rest, of a work feeding table disposed adjacent the work rest, an oscillatable work positioning member intermediate the table and rest having a work engaging portion movable from work receiving relation to the table to a position adjacent the rest for presentation of a projecting portion of the work in operative relation to said rest, means for resiliently shifting the member into said work presenting position, and means for positive- 1y urging the member in a reverse direction. 13. In a device of the class described the combinationof a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work support member within the grinding throat, means adjacent the grinding throat for presenting a work piece within said throat, said work piece having a head on one end thereof, said means including a carrier receiving the head of the work piece, a pivotal support for the carrier, means for oscillating the carrier about its support to position a projecting portion of the work on the work support within the throat, and means for actuating one of the wheels toward the other in timed relation with the oscillatable movement of the carrier to feed the work on the support into the grinding wheel.

14. In adevice of the class described the combination of a rinding wheel, means adjacent the active ace of the grinding wheel for supporting a work piece to be operated upon thereby, means pivotally mounted adj acent the work support for oscillation from a work receiving position to a position for placing a portion 0 the work on the support, and means operable in timed relation with the oscillation of the carrier to feed the work relative to the support into the grindin wheel.

15. In a device of the class descri ed the combination of a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work rest blade within the throat, a pivotally mounted carrier oscillatable from a work receiving position to a position for presenting work within the throat on the work rest blade, a rock shaft, a shift rod, an operable connection between the rock shaft and the shift rod whereby rocking of the shaft will effect axial shifting of the rod, and a rack and pinion connection between the shift rod and carrier whereby shifting of the rod will correspondingly oscillate the carrier.

16. In a device of the class described the combination of a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried by the bed and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a supportlng block subtending the grinding throat, a work rest blade on the block within the throat, a work supporting table on the block exteriorof the grinding throat, an oscillatable carrier and positioning member pivotally supported by the ,block, guide means extending between the table and carrier whereby a movement of the work along the table will be guided into operative association with the carrier, and means for oscillating the carrier to position a projecting portion of the work within the throat on the work rest blade.

17. In a device of the class described the combination of a bed, a pair of opposed grindin and regulating wheels forming a gradual y decreasing grinding throat therebetween, a work rest blade within the throat, a pivotally mounted work carrier ada ted to interlock with one terminus of a wor piece having an enlarged opposite terminus, and means for oscillating the carrier about its pivot to swing the enlarged terminus of the work through an are through the enlarged portion of the grinding throat to position the body portion of the work on the work rest blade and to position the enlarged terminus exterior of the throat on the side opposite from the carrier.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE V. JOHNSTON. 

